Triple-Helix Molecular Switch Electrochemical Ratiometric Biosensor for Ultrasensitive Detection of Nucleic Acids

Anal Chem. 2017 Sep 5;89(17):8830-8835. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b01251. Epub 2017 Aug 21.

Abstract

Biomolecular receptors such as nucleic acids that switch between two or more conformations upon binding to a specific target can be used to build specific and sensitive biosensors. In this work, based on the electrochemical dual-signaling ratiometric strategy and triple-helix molecular switch, we developed a selective, reusable, and simple electrochemical DNA (E-DNA) biosensor for target DNA (T-DNA) detection. A hairpin DNA capture probe labeled with methylene blue (MB-DNA) self-assembles on the surface of a gold electrode (GE) through Au-S bond, and then a single-strand DNA modified with two ferrocenes (Fc-DNA) on each end to enhance the oxidation signal hybridizes with the MB-DNA to form a triple-helix conformation. When T-DNA exists, the Fc-DNA hybridizes with T-DNA disassembling the triple-helix stem and allowing the MB-DNA to revert to its hairpin structure. Hence, the Fc tags diffuse away from the GE surface while the MB tags remain affixed close to it, resulting in a decrease in the peak current of Fc (IFc) and an increase in that of MB (IMB). The linear relationship between the value of IMB/IFc and the T-DNA concentration is observed from 0.5 to 80 pM, and the limit of detection is as low as 0.12 pM. The developed E-DNA biosensor may have great potential in the electrochemical detection of a wide range of analytes and be a biosensing platform for early clinical diagnosis and biomedical research.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • DNA Probes / metabolism
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis*
  • DNA, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Electrochemical Techniques / methods*
  • Electrodes
  • Gold / chemistry
  • Limit of Detection
  • Metallocenes / chemistry
  • Methylene Blue / chemistry
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Reproducibility of Results

Substances

  • DNA Probes
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Metallocenes
  • T-DNA
  • Gold
  • Methylene Blue